I have a 21' center console and was out fishing today. We left from the OV ramp and went straight out to the second island. We set out an umbrella rig and two stretch lures...an 18 and a 30. We trolled all the way to the fourth island without a hit. Speed was 3.9 mph give or take a bit. Upon bringing in the umbrella rig we saw that one of the shads had a bite out of his tail but missed the hook. We then went in between the spans, anchored up, and were nearly skunked until a 5" bluefish was caught. The water temp is/was high 60's, avg about 67.

I have heard that fishing after a north wind is always bad, I'm inclined to believe that. I'm not complaining because it was a spectacular fall day in Viginia and we were happy to be out there. I would love to know what anyone suggests that we could have done different.

Thanks in advance!

May want to try casting soft jigs around the islands or bridge spans. Storms, Chesapeakes, etc. will do the trick. Bucktails will work too.

first off welcome to the board. IMO the stripes arn't here thick enough to troll for them. most of the ones being caught are being casted too or chunking.

I agree with the boys Critter. Stow the trolling gear for now and cast to the rocks at the islands, cast or jig around the pilings of the bridge spans or any structure you happen to find. Tight lines and good luck!

I agree about the trolling. Also, might want to try dusk, dawn, or night.

Thanks for the ideas. Again, it was great just to get out there for the afternoon. Im hoping to get out to the hrbt later this week in the evening if the weather cooperates.

This time of year I would be trying plugs around the rocks sunrise and few hours before sunset.

Tom

with the previous advice. When you do get around to trolling again later in the year, slow it down. In my opinion 4 knots is to fast for stripers. I like to keep it around 2 knots. You may have to bump it in and out of gear. Depending on the currents, I usually keep the trottle in the lowest possible setting with a following sea and bump it up a little going against the current. You'll get the feel for it.

In colder years It seemed we trolled in the bay starting in mid Nov, last year it was the first week of Dec.

You can also chunk Menhaden at night.

Save the Umbrella rigs for the Ocean season. This time of year blues can be mixed in with the stripers. If you are casting to the rocks around the tunnels, try to get your lure ACAP to the rocks for stripers. If you cast ten feet from the rocks the blues will get it.

If you are still getting your soft plastics bit off switch to a hard bait such as a windcheater, stingsilver, or gotcha plug.

wait 3 weeks get some eels and hit the hirise at night.

I'm kind of surprised no one mentioned trying a live spot over the tubes. Tie a 7/0 circle hook to a 6 foot leader of 30# test. Attach the leader to a three way swivel. Tie a 4 ft section of 15# to 20# test to the 2nd eye on the three way and attach an 8 ounce sinker to the end of this leader. Catch yourself some live spot before heading out to the tube. Drop that sucker down right in top of the tube as you drift over, bouce it off the rocks every 6 seconds and enjoy yourself. It is working like a champ already this year.
I do agree with all the other advice posted too. It is too early for umbrellas. Save them until Thanksgiving or head way up the Bay and try it.

I certainly appreciate all the great fishing information provided here. Question: What is the technique of chumming vs. chunking. Thanks.

Chum is finely ground, can be partially or mostly liquid and is used to leave a scent trail back to the boat. Think of Chief Brady in Jaws ladeling the blood and fish guts over the side of the boat. Chum is typically used in shark fishing, although I have heard of people using chum logs for flounder and other bottom fishing. Chunking uses a trail of fish (usually butterfish offshore, bunker inshore) cut into bite sized pieces that the target fish actually eat. Both are broadcast to the current, usually from an anchored boat, which carries the scent and chunks away from the boat and attracts fish back to the boat and your bait. Tuna, stripers and bluefish are typically caught this way, although the method works for many types of fish. You now know as much as I do! Tight lines and good luck!

P-2 has got it, drift the tubes along the channel edges(I like the fourth) on in to about 20' and hold on!!

-Mike